Collapsible sheet-metal container



Oct. 28. 1924. 1,513,636

' I H. A. 'SCHOLZE COLLAPSIBLE swam" METAL coummsm Filed July' 11. 1921 Jig. .Z Z 6 i yayoza.

Patented Get. 28, 1924.

HOMER A. SCHOLZE, OF CATL-ETTSBURG,

KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO PERCY E. HUNTER, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

COLLAPSIIBLE SHEET-METAL CONTAINER.

Application filed July 11.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOMER A. SCHOLZE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Catlettsburg, in the county of Boyd and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Sheet-Metal Containers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is for a sheet metal container, and relates particularly to a collapsible sheet metal container especially useful for the shipment of loose material, such as lime, cement, etc.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a container of this kind which may be cheaply and easily made, and which, when shipped empty, will require a minimum of space but which can be quickly and easily assembled.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of the blank from which the body of the container is formed;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the body formed into shape;

Fig. 3 is a top view of the cover;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section through the cover;

Fig. 5 is a section on line VV of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a completely assembled container;

Fig. 7 is a detail section of a portion of the cover.

In the drawings, A represents the body 01 the container which is formed from a flexible sheet of metal. The shape of the sheet of metal is shown in Fig. 1. It comprises a main central portion 5 having its upper and lower edges 6 flared outwardly. At each end of the strip are portions 7 which do not extend the entire width of the strip, but which terminate at the point where the edges of the body begin to flare. These edges are adapted to be bent over to form interlocking hooks, as shown in Fig. 5. In practice, the blanks are formed and the portions 7 are bent to form the hooks. Then the blanks are ready for use, and can be shipped or stored as substantially fiat articles, and piled one on top of another.

The cover 8 and the bottom 9 are also preferably formed of sheet metal, and have sides or flanges 10 formed thereon. As shown in Fig. 4, these flanges are turned inwardly. The top 8 and bottom 9 are sub- 1921. Serial No. 4231658.

stantially the same, but the cover 8:is preferably provided with an opening therethrough. Pivoted to the cover at 11 is a closure 12 for the opening. Secured to the under side of the closure 12 is a member 13 adapted to be projected beneath the cover 8 to secure the closure, as shown in Fig. 7.. Pivoted to the top of the cover 8 is a i'astening member 14: for holding the cover closed. This fastening member may be turned to overlap the closure when it is covering the opening, as shown in Fig. 7, out when it is desired to open the closure it )8 turned so that the cover may be moved on its pivot 11 to open position. The top 8 and covers 9 may be nested or piled -ne on top of another in shipment.

In use, the flat body A with the flared edges 6 and hooks 7 formed thereon, is

rolled up into a cylindrical form, with the hook portions moved past the interlocking position, so that the diameter is less than the normal diameter. Then the cover 8 and the bottom 9 are applied, and the cylindrical body is released and will expand by reason of the resiliency of the metal and the flared edges will engage the inturned flanges 10 of the cover and base to hold them on, while the interlocking hook ortions will engage to form a closed seam a ong the side and prevent further expansion. The container may then be filled through the opening in the cover 8, and the material in the container will tend to expand the body and thereby prevent it from collapsing or contracting until it is again emptied. It may, after being emptied, be collapsed by compressing the body A to decrease the diameter of the body.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a container for shipping loose material which may be cheaply manufactured, shipped when empty in a minimum space, and which can be easily assembled.

What I claim is:

1. A collapsible container comprising a sheet metal body having adjacent end portions thereof provided with hooks extending therealong, which hooks are detachably interlocked and which may be disengaged by contraction of the body, and flanged end members removably retained on the ends of the container and adapted to be released by contraction of thebody, said hooks being of less width than the body of the can to provide clearance for the flanges of the end members when they are applied to the body.

2. A collapsible container comprising a body in the form of a sheet metal strip having its edges brought together, the top and bottom of the body being flared, interlocking hook portions 011 the adjacent eoges of the body releasably engaging each other and which may be disengaged upon contraction of the body, the body having out out portions therein above and below the hooks,

Which hooks are accordingly ,of less vgidth than the Width of the receptacle, and flanged end members, the flanges of Which are contracted to interlock ith the flared ends of the body at each end thereof, said end menihere being removable upoh contraction of the body, said out out areas in the body providing clearance at each end of the hooks for the flanges of the end members.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature, o HOMER'A. SCHOLZE. 

